Isaac volunteered with the Union Army, Company H, 8th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry and served from August 21, 1861 until April 20, 1866 in the Battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg and others. He was taken prisoner on May 14, 1863 at Jackson, Mississippi for a short time during his service but was soon exchanged by the Confederacy to the Union forces.

During a brief furlough, he married his wife Ruth Ann Williams.

Source: _ HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY_, v. 1, p. 832. Curtis Media Corp., 1984 (A joint effort of Keo-Mah Genealogical Society and The Mahaska County Historical Society.)

Shoemake, Isaac G., enlisted August 12, 1861, taken prisoner at Shiloh, re-enlisted as veteran, January 1, 1864.

Source: THE HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY, IOWA, containing A history of the county…, "War History", Mahaska County War Record, Eighth Infantry, Company H, p. 401. Des Moines: Union Historical Company, 1878.

Mr. Shoemake enlisted in Co. H, 8th Iowa Inf., in 1861, and was discharged in 1865 [Error - 1866]; was in all the battles that the regiment participated in.

Source: Phillips, Semira A., PROUD MAHASKA, 1843-1900, 691-2. Oskaloosa, IA: Herald Print, 1900.

Isaac G Shoemake